Kohl's facing lawsuit over deceptive pricing

[jackie011]

Jul 23, 2015 15:41:17 GMT -5 teeah22 said:

Kohls used to be the shit when you could use your 30% off coupon on anything, and then stack it with other $10 off coupons and Kohls cash. But now you can't use the percent off coupons on a bunch of name brand stuff like Nike, Britax, etc. They used to not have any exclusions and now there's tons of them.

I think that's more on the brand than Kohls. I know I've seen other stores with signs saying Nike is excluded from extra discounts.

[starlily]

Jul 23, 2015 14:00:37 GMT -5 @this said:

GOOD.

I stopped shopping there in part because of their pricing BS.

ETA: My ire is directed at Kohls - not TJ Maxx. Theirs isn't tricky like Kohls.

Kohls wanted me to believe that a full size sheet set by Jennifer Lopez originally cost $126. Fuck that noise.

[wavepool]

Jul 23, 2015 16:16:43 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

Jul 23, 2015 14:03:59 GMT -5 wavepool said:

Their pricing annoys me, but this is still kind of ridiculous to me. Who cares what the "regular" price is/was....The marked price is all that actually matters to their bank account. If they really can't resist it because of how great of a deal it is, that's not the company's fault.
I don't know how anyone still falls for "the best sale of the year" every single weekend.

The idea of "well it's your fault for falling for it" basically makes it so that no company has any incentive to ever tell the truth in advertising.  No.  They have ethical obligations.

But I just don't see what the damage is here. Yes, they should change how they do it because it's annoying, but what difference does the regular price make?
If they're not following laws by doing this, it makes sense to do something about it, but I see a big difference in this and a company claiming something does something it doesn't.
Lol, I was a little nervous when I saw you quoted me. Tell me what I'm missing here. Or is this just an all or nothing issue...misrepresenting price is false advertising, so it just falls under that, no matter the degree?

[Deleted]

I didn't read the article but I never, ever believe Kohls original prices. It's such a load of crap. Look how much you saved!!! You saved hundreds over the prices we never actually charge. Uh huh. Ok.

When I was in college I worked at Bath and Body works. Their signature body collection was never NOT on sale. Sure, you paid full price if you didn't buy the designated number like buy 3 get 1 free or 3 for $21 or whatever it was. But it was literally always on sale of some sort. I always thought that was deceptive.

[bbonanza]

Jul 23, 2015 15:54:48 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

Jul 23, 2015 15:43:05 GMT -5 sunshineluv said:

I love Kohls.

Someone should sue Sprint for deceptive pricing, or any of the big cell companies. When I was shopping around I found it impossible to figure out what a bill would be. Cut your bill in half! But pay fees you can't find in the fine print on our website.

This is why we still have flip phones. There are so many hidden charges & fees that our cell bill would more than double if we upgraded.

I have an android tracfone - LG phone. I think it was like $145 for the phone upfront with triple minutes, text, and data for life - but no monthly bills or added fees, I just add text and data as I need it, I haven't had to add talk since I got it back in February.  So far it's been great.  I usually am able to use the wifi rather than data most of the time.  I had a flip phone too, but my DH got tired of me not having a "smartphone" so he got me this.  It was some deal off of QVC.

[wavepool]

Jul 23, 2015 16:45:11 GMT -5 @awinter said:

I didn't read the article but I never, ever believe Kohls original prices. It's such a load of crap. Look how much you saved!!! You saved hundreds over the prices we never actually charge. Uh huh. Ok.

When I was in college I worked at Bath and Body works. Their signature body collection was never NOT on sale. Sure, you paid full price if you didn't buy the designated number like buy 3 get 1 free or 3 for $21 or whatever it was. But it was literally always on sale of some sort. I always thought that was deceptive.

I worked there, too, and always thought the same thing.
thebreakfastclub, can they get around the rule you described since its a bogo deal or something?

[spk926]

You know what I hate about Kohls? The million sections they have. If I'm looking for a shirt I have to walk through half the store to find one. Put all the shirts together, all the pants together and so on. THAT is was deters me the most from shopping there.

When I rarely do buy from there I find what I want online first then bring that in and ask an employee where in the store it is.

[sent]

I admit I have paid full price for stuff at Kohl's. There was a period of 6 months pre-pregnancy when nothing was fitting me and Kohl's was the closest store to work that sold clothing and had easy parking. I didn't really know much about the store or about all their sales and coupons. I just needed to buy ASAP so I went there during breaks and bought stuff.

Obviously now I know better. I also only shop there like 3x/year.

I still don't understand what the issue is in this article.

[chickadee77]

I'm cool with Kohls, though the pricing used to bug me. Then I went to a Lazarus store and saw the exact same stuff as Kohls, but offered at regular price. For real - same brands and everything. So it stopped bugging me because I was all, " Well, this *is* someone's regular price, so whatevs."

[mrshandy]

I only shop at Kohls when I get like $10 off of $20 or something like that. Or just $10 off of $10. That to me is a good deal since I just buy a shirt or two for DS.

I just wait til I get something good, otherwise I don't go.

[bowies]

A-ha I knew there was a reason why both lawsuits are in California. Maybe they will be successful then. TJM seems easier to change. I dream of a day when you don't have to wait for the "right" sale, bring in the right coupons, make sure you have reward points, hop on one foot, and make an offering to a demigod to get a fair price on a T-shirt.

[TrickyBob]

Kohl's was probably my favorite retail store to work for from what I saw. Lots of community involvement. I had asked them about the "deals" but I forget the answer. Something about manufacture price and what they can sell it at.

[wavepool]

Jul 23, 2015 17:46:06 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

Jul 23, 2015 16:41:01 GMT -5 wavepool said:

But I just don't see what the damage is here. Yes, they should change how they do it because it's annoying, but what difference does the regular price make?
If they're not following laws by doing this, it makes sense to do something about it, but I see a big difference in this and a company claiming something does something it doesn't.
Lol, I was a little nervous when I saw you quoted me. Tell me what I'm missing here. Or is this just an all or nothing issue...misrepresenting price is false advertising, so it just falls under that, no matter the degree?

This thread I think covered similar ground.


pandce.proboards.com/thread/311187/br-sued-deceptive-sale-signs

Esf's explanation was good, thanks. That thread got a little nutty with the "guest " escalation.
Now I want to make sure I see the update to how this thing ends.

[Brie]

Jul 23, 2015 19:18:07 GMT -5 teeah22 said:

Jul 23, 2015 16:18:48 GMT -5 jackie011 said:

I think that's more on the brand than Kohls. I know I've seen other stores with signs saying Nike is excluded from extra discounts.

The Nike exclusions are direct from Nike, my mom works for Kohls and told me that. But a ton of other stuff is now excluded, baby gear in general for one.  In the past I got my Babyletto crib, Britax car seats, and Graco high chair all from Kohls and used my percent off coupons to get some great deals. All those items are now excluded from their coupons.  I guarantee that's not coming from those companies.

Eh. I just bought a Britax car seat from Kohl's and while it was full price, I ended up getting $90 in rewards from the purchase. The Britax Clicktight stuff never goes on sale anywhere that I've seen anyway and that's what I decided on. And now we are set on the next size up for clothes for both kids.

[thebreakfastclub]

I would argue that pricing or getting the best deal is more transparent than ever. Anyone with a bar code app can instantly compare prices and have the best deal shipped directly home, often for free.

It's why you see more stores offering their own brands, exclusives or special multi packs - anything that makes it unique and not directly comparable to Amazon.

[Velar Fricative]

Jul 23, 2015 17:46:06 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

Jul 23, 2015 16:41:01 GMT -5 wavepool said:

But I just don't see what the damage is here. Yes, they should change how they do it because it's annoying, but what difference does the regular price make?
If they're not following laws by doing this, it makes sense to do something about it, but I see a big difference in this and a company claiming something does something it doesn't.
Lol, I was a little nervous when I saw you quoted me. Tell me what I'm missing here. Or is this just an all or nothing issue...misrepresenting price is false advertising, so it just falls under that, no matter the degree?

This thread I think covered similar ground.


pandce.proboards.com/thread/311187/br-sued-deceptive-sale-signs

I *knew* we discussed this and that ESF was awesome wherever we discussed it...I just shamefully forgot it caused a board war!

[redpenmama]

Jul 23, 2015 17:59:30 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

I only shop at Kohls when I get like $10 off of $20 or something like that. Or just $10 off of $10. That to me is a good deal since I just buy a shirt or two for DS.

I just wait til I get something good, otherwise I don't go.

Same here. I get $10 off $10 coupons in the mail every couple months, and that's really the only time I go. Last time, I had a $15 off $15, $10 off $30, and 30% off and got like 9 items for the kids for a few bucks. The cashier was like "you saved $98!" Yes, because this pile of Jumping Beans shorts and Carters PJs is totally worth $100.

I have no issue with TJX and actually think you can do really well there. I price check what I can there, and the prices almost always can't be beat.

Kohls has a sketchy pricing strategy, but really, does anyone not know that their "original prices" are never charged?

[bugandbibs]

My problem with Kohls is that you have to have their CC to really play the game. I'm a huge couponer and don't mind chasing deals, but we are an all cash family.

[frlcb]

Am I the only person who has never been in a Kohls? I don't even know where one is and I live in a big city.

[cjeanette]

How was this hard for people to figure out? I mean, you can compare their regular prices to anywhere else and it will be overinflated. Amazon does this too to an extent.

[Brie]

Jul 23, 2015 20:35:42 GMT -5 cjeanette said:

How was this hard for people to figure out? I mean, you can compare their regular prices to anywhere else and it will be overinflated. Amazon does this too to an extent.

I don't know what you mean!

[mainelyfoolish]

Jul 23, 2015 20:57:06 GMT -5 Brie said:

Jul 23, 2015 20:35:42 GMT -5 cjeanette said:

How was this hard for people to figure out? I mean, you can compare their regular prices to anywhere else and it will be overinflated. Amazon does this too to an extent.

I don't know what you mean!

LOL! And meanwhile, you can buy one off the shelf at Walmart for $2.44. 

[wavepool]

Jul 23, 2015 20:57:06 GMT -5 Brie said:

Jul 23, 2015 20:35:42 GMT -5 cjeanette said:

How was this hard for people to figure out? I mean, you can compare their regular prices to anywhere else and it will be overinflated. Amazon does this too to an extent.

I don't know what you mean!

haha, WHAT??

[cjeanette]

Jul 23, 2015 20:57:06 GMT -5 Brie said:

Jul 23, 2015 20:35:42 GMT -5 cjeanette said:

How was this hard for people to figure out? I mean, you can compare their regular prices to anywhere else and it will be overinflated. Amazon does this too to an extent.

I don't know what you mean!

WHAT A DEAL!!!!!

[ESF]

Jul 23, 2015 19:42:40 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Jul 23, 2015 17:46:06 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

This thread I think covered similar ground.


pandce.proboards.com/thread/311187/br-sued-deceptive-sale-signs

I *knew* we discussed this and that ESF was awesome wherever we discussed it...I just shamefully forgot it caused a board war!

That was a good thread.

[ESF]

Jul 23, 2015 15:43:05 GMT -5 sunshineluv said:

I love Kohls.

Someone should sue Sprint for deceptive pricing, or any of the big cell companies. When I was shopping around I found it impossible to figure out what a bill would be. Cut your bill in half! But pay fees you can't find in the fine print on our website.

You can't sue the big cell companies.  All of them have clauses in them that say that you have to have your disputes heard in arbitration, and you cannot bring class actions. Now if you want to fight Sprint, you have to go to arbitration, where a person employed by Sprint will decide if Sprint wronged you.  Even if Sprint wronged you, the arbitrators rarely have the power to stop them from continuing to do it in the future, so they can just keep overcharging you if they want.

These clauses were not enforceable until 2011 because duh, they are wildly unfair and it defies common sense that you should be able to waive your 7th amendment right to a jury trial via a fine print contract. The Supreme Court said courts had to enforce them, though.  So now, anything with a contract has these kinds of provisions in them - credit cards, software, online services, banking, airline tickets, insurance, etc.

This is America.

Velar Fricative see what happens when you take me into MM Moms.

[carolinagirl831]

I hate kohls. My mil is always saying look at the awesome deals I got there... this should have been $500 worth of clothes i got for $50... lol it never would have sold for $500 in the first place.

I do think you can get good deals on cookware, vaccumns ect... but clothes... meh